On the 16th January, 1862, 204 men and boys were killed in a mining accident at Hester Pit of Hartley Colliery. The massive beam of the pit's pumping engine broke and half of it, weighing 20 tons, fell down the shaft, trapping the men below, with no other exit. With the pump out of action, the mine began filling up with water and gases. National newspapers reported each day on the miners trapped below ground, and for a few days there were hopes of a rescue. Sadly, by the time the miners were reached, they were dead. The tragedy prompted a new law, requiring all collieries to have at least 2 means of escape.

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The Church of St. Michael & All Angels in New Hartley opened for worship in December 1900.

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The memorial pathway in the Hester Pit Memorial Garden in New Hartley was opened on the 8th of September, 2012. The pathway was built to mark the 150th anniversary of the Hester Pit disaster in 1862. Russ Coleman (artist) and Rob Walton (writer) were commissioned to create a memorial pathway, working with local schools and the community to develop ideas for the pathway. It displays the names and ages of all the 204 men and boys who lost their lives in the disaster.

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